The hardest way to make a GIF

https://blog.willgrant.org/2026/07/23/the-hardest-way-to-make-gif.html

Comments

ticulatedsplineJul 24, 2026, 7:29 PM
> Using imagemagick on the command line I was able to combine the images into a GIF.

man what a cop out, I was hoping they would use a text editor to build the gif. that would be way harder.

hereonout2Jul 24, 2026, 7:54 PM
Indeed, I've never developed my own film but I do respect it entails a fair bit of effort, and the funky old camera is cool.

But scanning, cropping using one of the latest image editors, then running it through imagemagick does not feel like the hardest way to make a gif.

adzmJul 24, 2026, 8:04 PM
Developing film is such a beautiful kind of magic. Watching the image appear in a darkroom before your eyes is a very unique experience.
helterskelterJul 24, 2026, 8:35 PM
Yeah I was expecting somebody to build a gif by hand from the spec using ed.
unsnap_bicepsJul 24, 2026, 9:20 PM
Relevant XKCD https://xkcd.com/378/
DerivativeBSJul 24, 2026, 8:51 PM
Yeah, real devs write their own LZW compression implementation from scratch in C++
virgil_disgr4ceJul 24, 2026, 7:03 PM
This reminds me in the best way of Lynch's Lumiere competition entry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds-OKH2ow4o
dominicqJul 24, 2026, 6:51 PM
"Acquire photons" was funny
john_strinlaiJul 24, 2026, 6:52 PM
it certainly gives "you must first invent the universe" vibes
MitPittJul 24, 2026, 7:04 PM
If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe
mxfhJul 24, 2026, 9:28 PM
No reference to Ulead GIF Animator? Was expecting some time travel step in between.